House must clarify bill barring suspects from running in polls – solon

Apollo Quiboloy. Photo from DILG Sec. Abalos/FACEBOOK PAGE

MANILA, Philippines — House lawmakers should clarify the bill seeking to bar heinous crime suspects from running in polls, particularly the stage when it should take effect, 1-Rder party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez said on Thursday.

In a briefing, Gutierrez was asked about Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy’s Senate bid in the 2025 elections amid the criminal cases filed against him. Gutierrez said that currently it is allowed by the law.

Gutierrez was then asked about Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante’s proposal to stop individuals facing heinous crime charges from running in an election.

“I think, if I understand the proposal correctly, this is not [based on] final judgment. What Chairman Benny wants is that with the simple filing of a case, which can happen to anyone even without probable cause. Anyone can file a case against people that might be a way to… it may cause more harm than good,” Gutierrez explained.

“It might preempt the legitimate, qualified candidates just because they are facing a certain case. So maybe if we explore it more, maybe we can have that only upon finding probable cause…But as far as the proposal of disqualifying just because a case was filed, that seems to be a hard thing,” he added.

Gutierrez also said the basis of disqualification has to be moral turpitude so it is consistent with the Omnibus Election Code.

“But we’re all free to propose disqualification based on heinous crimes charges; it seems the proposal of Chair Benny has a basis,” he added.

Abante on Wednesday said lawmakers should study whether there is a need to create a law that would disallow individuals facing heinous crimes charges from running in an election.

He said this in response to questions about Quiboloy’s decision to run for senator.

READ: Abante wants to bar anyone facing heinous crimes from seeking election

Quiboloy is facing qualified human trafficking charges before the Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 159.  While his alleged offense is non-bailable and considered heinous, he was able to file his certificate for candidacy (COC) through his lawyer as the law only prohibits individuals convicted of crimes from participating in an election.

READ: From jail, Quiboloy joins Senate race 

Abante’s proposal came after some individuals being probed by the House of Representatives quad committee attempted to run in the 2025 polls. He called them “hard-headed.”

Among the quad committee’s resource persons who filed their COC is businesswoman Rose Nono Lin, who is vying for the congressional seat of Quezon City’s 5th District.

Lin is the wife of Lin Wei Xiong, the Chinese national who is said to be the financial manager of Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. The company was dragged into the spotlight in 2021 after it was tapped to provide medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic despite a small paid-up capital of P625,000.

The couple’s names also popped out during the quad committee hearing for allegedly being involved in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators and the illegal drug trade.

READ: Abante blasts candidates being probed by House for Pogo issues

Regarding Lin, Gutierrez said the quad panel should do something about this as it seems she does not want to attend the hearings.

“I think they were made aware of it (show-cause order), they received it in writing. And the fact that despite that being a few weeks back, she still had the time to file her COC. I think that’s something for the quad to consider,” he said.

“I mean whether or not she did file her COC, the next step after show-cause [order] without a written excuse would be a subpoena. It really speaks of her state of mind, maybe it speaks of the feeling of impunity… But we don’t want to prejudge it.  I guess all that we can do is reiterate our invitation and hopefully by this next quad the subpoena can be issued,” he added.